Get in Shape - Career Fitness Goals For 2009

We are already into the second week of 2009 and I suspect that you are well underway to fulfilling your New Year’s Resolutions. If you are anything like me, “getting in shape” is one of your highest priorities. I actually began this process last September, when I hired a personal trainer to give me guidance and keep me motivated. I have to admit that I back peddled a little over the holidays, but I am on track again and in charge!

Just like with diet and exercise, we sometimes get complacent, and as a result our careers “get flabby” or worse yet, are side-lined by a poor economy and company cuts. When a sport’s team is looking to cut players, they prefer to cut those who are out of shape; much the same happens when companies are looking to reorganize or reduce expenses.

Before you find yourself cut from the starting line-up, or if you are currently recovering from a recent cut, take today to set your “career fitness goals” for the coming year. Following are some suggestions to help you get and keep in the best shape possible - now and into the future:

Read online job postings for your profession or, if you are currently in career transition, for the types of positions you are targeting. What better way to know what types of candidates an employer is seeking and what skills are required to remain competitive in the ever-changing world of work. Highlight required skills – job specific, transferable and interpersonal - and make note of those you currently possess and those you need to attain.

Join a professional association and/or get active in one to which you currently belong. Associations are a great way for you to stay connected with others in your industry and keep tabs on what is happening.

Learn a new skill. Find out what skills are in highest demand and enroll in an online class or check out your local community college. Your local Chamber of Commerce or similar community organization may have a “lunch and learn” series where you can develop new skills during your lunch break. Many professional associations also offer training and certification relevant to your career or occupation.

Subscribe to and read an industry or occupation journal. Stay abreast of new challenges and developments affecting your industry and/or profession. You’ll be better informed while also acquiring new topics to discuss with colleagues.

Make plans to attend one professional convention or tradeshow this year. You may be able to renew old acquaintances and definitely will make new contacts to expand your network. You’ll learn additional new skills. And best of all, you will get out of the office and into new surroundings. I guarantee you will return with new energy and enthusiasm for what you do – or you will be further motivated to more actively pursue another career path.

Find a mentor or mentor a colleague. All around you are successful professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and experience to help other professionals become more successful. Look around you and take note of the movers and shakers in your company or community – then ask if they would consider a mentoring relationship. Don’t need a mentor? Then how about looking for someone who does? There is no better way to challenge what you know and reinforce your skills than to provide mentoring to a less experienced professional.

Track your achievements. This goes hand-in-hand with updating your résumé and keeping it updated. Create an achievement log and every time you solve a problem at work, improve a process, take initiative, lead a project, increase revenues or earn formal or informal recognition for a job well done, write it down. And you know those e-mail messages you get from colleagues or customers thanking you for some small way that you helped out, don’t delete them – print them and put them in your “kudos file” along with copies of any certificates and awards. This will not only serve as a constant reminder to you of how much you are valued, but it will also streamline the process of keeping your résumé up to date.

Plan, schedule and take a vacation. Not the kind of vacation where you are connected to e-mail and voice mail 24/7 but a real vacation where you have time to recharge and refocus your energy. American workers are notorious for foregoing rest and recuperation, which are essential to maintaining peak performance and ensuring a secure place in the workforce throughout your career – no matter what happens to your job or company.

May 2009 bring you new dreams to fulfill, new goals to reach, and new opportunities to discover. And, remember this - if you are not managing your career, than no one is.